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Brine shrimp

Brine shrimps are aquatic crustaceans known to have existed for over a thousand years. Their eggs are able to remain in a state of total stasis for as long as 2 years, in conditions without oxygen, below freezing temperatures and even above boiling temperatures. In short, they are extremely hardy! They will remain metabolically inactive during this period in a condition known as "cryptobiosis" or “hidden life”.

However, once the eggs are placed in salted water, they will be able to hatch within a few hours. The hatched larvae are called "nauplii" and they measure about 0.5 mm in length. The average life cycle of a brine shrimp is 1 year. During this period, a matured and fully grown shrimp can grow up to 1 centimeter in length.

Brine shrimp found in the wild will normally live on microscopic algae and plankton. The brine shrimp that is grown in cultures or inside aquariums are normally fed with yeast, egg yolk, soybean powder or wheat flour. Brine shrimp are normally able to tolerate different levels of water salinity.